This is reflected in several of their works where: “they incorporated figures from numerous mythologies and legends.” This knowledge probably resulted in the clash between Classical antiquity and The Middle Ages seen in MPHG. The group possessed an extensive knowledge of history and mythology, which was not limited to British history. The group’s roots in an academic environment must have contributed to their insights into Classical antiquity and canonical texts such as The Iliad and The Odyssey, a knowledge they managed to transform into a new and funny context in their following films and tv-shows. Through this it becomes evident what kind of audience Monty Python wanted and were able to engage with. In 1971 their first film And Now for Something Completely Different was released, a sketch-based film aiming at an audience among American university students. The satirical group Monty Python consisted of six British/American comedians, all of whom had an academic background in various fields. But as the following analysis will show, these two worlds have a lot more in common than initially perceived.įor those unfamiliar with Monty Python, let me first provide you with this short presentation. Those who have watched MPHG will easily recall a plot revolving around the legendary, and Medieval, king Arthur and his knights of the round table – a not particularly ancient Greek or Roman tale.
In this article I would like to show you what at first glance might seem a rather odd example when talking about the use of Classical antiquity in film – namely Monty Python and the Holy Grail (hereafter MPHG). In films for example, comments on current and possibly sensitive topics, can be easier and more freely delivered when shown through the veil of centuries past. But why is it that specific people choose to mix certain eras to portray individual characters or events? The answer is that these fusions of different time periods cannot only tell us something about the past they can also tell us a great deal about the present. However, some people are fully aware of the connections between past and present and use this awareness deliberately in creating something new. Classical antiquity has had such a huge impact on every single following century, that many of the above-mentioned elements have become a natural part of our daily lives – so natural, I believe, that most people probably do not even know they are passing on knowledge of or stories about events that took place so long time ago. In fact, our modern world is built around its concepts and ideas, its language, architectural and stylistic elements as well as its stories, myths and characters. References to Classical antiquity can be found everywhere. Oktober 2018 – Letzte Aktualisierung: 20.
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